Game Preview
• Navy will look to push its record to 2-0 when it makes the journey to Florida to take part in the Moe’s Southwest Grill Classic on Sunday … Navy will face host Jacksonville in the second game of a doubleheader which features Denver vs. Ohio State at 2:00 pm, followed by the Mids and Dolphins at 4:00 pm. The game will be played at EverBank Field, home of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.
• Last week the Mids opened their 105th season of lacrosse as well as the Rick Sowell coaching era by earning a 14-7 win over VMI in Annapolis. Sophomore attackmen Tucker Hull and Sam Jones combined to score 17 points, including 11 of the Mids’ 14 goals.
• Jacksonville, meanwhile, is in search of its first win since edging VMI, 13-12, on April 24, 2011 … the Dolphins dropped their opener last Saturday at home against Towson, 12-10 … Jacksonville held a 7-5 halftime advantage, but gave up seven second-half goals, including four in the final quarter of play.
• Sunday’s contest will be televised by NBC Sports Network (formerly Versus) with Brent Harris (play by play) Evan Washburn (analyst) and Amber Theoharis (sideline) calling he action.

More on the Dolphins
• Entering just their third season as a Div. I program, Jacksonville is led by first-year head coach Guy Van Arsdale who spent the last two seasons as the head coach at Colorado College (Div. III).
• The Dolphins opened the 2012 campaign last Saturday, dropping a two-goal decision to visiting Towson … Jacksonville held a 7-5 halftime advantage, but gave up seven second-half goals, including four in the final quarter of play.
• Five of Jacksonville’s top-six scorers from a year ago return, including junior midfielder Cameron Mann who topped the team with 37 points on 18 goals and 19 assists … he pitched in three goals and one assist in the loss against Towson last week.
• Freshman attackman Ari Waffle led all scorers in the opener with five points on three goals and two assists.
• Also returning are junior attackman TJ Kenary, who posted 21 goals and seven assists, senior attackman Max Gurowski, who led the team with 20 assists and six goals, while junior middie Donovan Lange scored 14 goals and added six assists.
• Sophomore Will Vogt played a solid game, winning 12 of the 19 draws he took and pacing all players with eight ground balls … Vogt won 51.7 percent (134-259) of the draws he took in 2011 and led the team in grounders.
• Dolphins keeper sophomore Peter Deluca gave up all 12 goals, while making 10 saves in the contest … Deluca owned a 50.8 save percentage a year ago, while surrendering 11.60 goals per game.

Navy vs. Jacksonville – The Series
• Sunday’s contest between the Mids and the Dolphins marks the inaugural game of the series.
• Of the 60 other Div. I teams who field men’s lacrosse teams, the Midshipmen have played 40 of them.
• Jacksonville will be crossed off the list of 20 teams Navy has not played when the two meet on Sunday.
• The following is a list of teams Navy has not played in its 105-year history (first year of DI lax): Albany (2000), Bellarmine (2005), Binghamton (2002), Bryant (2009), Denver (1999), Detroit (2009), Fairfield, Hartford (1985), Jacksonville (2010), Manhattan, Mercer (2011), Michigan (2012), Notre Dame (1981), Quinnipiac (1999), Robert Morris (2005), Sacred Heart (2000), Siena (1977), Vermont, Villanova (1981), Wagner (2000).

Navy Vs. the MAAC
• The Mids are undefeated against the seven-member Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, producing a 7-0 overall record, including a 1-0 mark in 2012.
• Last Saturday, the Mids kicked off the 2012 campaign by defeating VMI, 14-7, which marked the eighth-straight season the Mids have faced a team either currently in the MAAC or had previously been part of the MAAC at the time of the contest.
• In 2005, Navy faced Providence who is now a member of the newly-formed Big East, while in 2006 and ‘07 the Mids battled Saint Joseph’s who has moved to the Colonial Athletic Association. The Mids have battled VMI in each of the last five seasons’ openers.

Taking the Field In …
10 – Navy has lost just five games (47-5) when scoring 10 or more goals since the start of the 2004 campaign … Navy is 1-0 this season.
9 – Senior goalkeeper RJ Wickham needs nine saves to move into ninth on the Mids’ all-time saves list … he has turned away 346 shots over his career and trails 1990 graduate Louis Brown who amassed 355 saves.
8 – Navy has lost eight-straight games when scoring seven or fewer goals … the Mids were held to seven or fewer goals just three times a year ago.
7 – The Mids’ 7-0 run that covered the first two quarters against VMI last week marked the school’s largest run since scoring eight straight against Lafayette last spring.
6 – Sophomore attackman Tucker Hull led Navy with six goals against VMI in the opener … it’s the most goals by a Navy player since Taylor Harris scored six against Holy Cross on March 26, 2006.
5 – Sophomore attackman Sam Jones pushed his point scoring streak to five in a row thanks to a remarkable nine-point (5-4) effort against VMI … it’s the most points scored by a Navy player since Dennis Nealon produced 12 points against Washington College on March 20, 1991.
4 – Four of Navy’s 2012 opponents are ranked in the 2012 USILA Coaches Preseason Poll – Johns Hopkins (2), North Carolina (6), Maryland (7), Bucknell (12), while Army and Colgate are receiving votes.
3 – With a 751-308-14 record, Navy is the third-winningest program in Div. I men’s lax behind Johns Hopkins (912-294-15) and Syracuse (821-312-16).
2 – Navy’s Rick Sowell and Jacksonville’s Guy Van Arsdale are two of the 15 schools around the country to have first-year coaches this season.
1 – Over the last four seasons, 22 (9-13) of the Mids’ 61 contests have been decided by one goal.

Navy 14, VMI 7 — A Look Back
• Navy improved to 89-15-1 all-time in season openers, including 11 in a row, after handing VMI a 14-7 loss.
• Navy has reached double-figures in 10 of the 11 games during the winning streak.
• Navy has now won 28 in a row when scoring 14 or more goals in a game.
• Navy sophomore attackmen Tucker Hull and Sam Jones combined to scored 17 points, including 11 of the 14 goals against the Keydets. The last Navy tandem to combine for 11 goals was Brendan Schneck and Mike Hannan, who pitched in six and five goals, respectively, to help guide the Mids to a 16-8 win over Princeton on April 8, 1978.
• Hull paced the Mids with a career-high school goals, marking the most goals by a Navy player since Taylor Harris scored six against Holy Cross on March 26, 2006.
• Jones pitched in five goals and four assists, as he became the first Navy player to produce nine points since Dennis Nealon’s 12-point effort against Washington College on March 20, 1991.
• Sophomore midfielder Pat Durkin scored his first-collegiate goal in making just his second-career start.
• Senior faceoff specialist Logan West jumped from sixth to fourth on the Mids’ all-time faceoff wins list following a 10-for-25 effort against VMI … he has won 185 draws over four seasons.
• Junior midfielder Bryce Dabbs, junior defenseman Austin Miller and sophomore defenseman Nik Mullen made their first-collegiate starts in Navy’s opener … for Dabbs, it was his first-career appearance.
• Short stick defensive midfielder Cade Norris picked up a career-best three ground balls while causing a personal-high four turnovers.

National Exposure
• Since the start of 2004, 50 Navy lacrosse games have been televised.
2004 4-2 (6) CSTV 1-1 ESPN 2-1 WMAR 1-0
2005 3-3 (6) CSTV 3-0 ESPN 0-3
2006 3-4 (7) CSTV 2-4 ESPN 1-0
2007 2-3 (5) CSTV 2-1 ESPN 0-1 MASN 0-1
2008 3-5 (8) CBS C 1-2 ESPN 2-2 MASN 0-1
2009 5-2 (7) CBS C 3-0 ESPN 1-2 MASN 1-0
2010 3-5 (8) CBS C 3-3 ESPN 0-2
2011 0-2 (2) CBS 0-2 ESPN 0-1
2012 0-0 (4) CBS 0-0 ESPN 0-0 NBC 0-0
CBS Sports Network: 15-13 ESPN: 6-12
NBC Sports Network: 0-0 MASN: 1-2 WMAR: 1-0
• Four regular-season contests are on tap to be aired this season, including this weekend’s game against Jacksonville.
• NBC Sports Network, formerly known as Vs., will carry the Navy-Jacksonville game live from EverBank Field, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars … the Moe’s Southwest Grill Classic will feature Denver vs. Ohio State at 2:00 pm, followed by the Mids at Dolphins at 4:00 pm.
• CBS Sports Network will televise the Mids’ March 30 matchup against Lehigh at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, along with the annual Army-Navy game slated for April 14 at West Point, N.Y. and the Mids’ regular-season finale at home against Johns Hopkins on April 21.
• Additionally, CBS Sports Network will televise both Patriot League Tournament Semifinal contests on April 27, along with the championship game on April 29.
• Last year, CBS Sports Network carried rivalry games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium against Maryland and Army, while ESPNU aired Navy’s contest at Johns Hopkins.
• The Mids own a 23-27 record when their games are televised (since ‘04) … Navy is 15-13 on CBS Sports Network all-time and 6-12 on the ESPN family of networks … the Mids are also 1-0 on local Baltimore station WMAR and 1-2 on MASN.
• Sunday’s contest marks the first time the Mids have appeared on the NBC network and it is believed to be the first college games to be aired by the network.
• The Mids own a 59-16 record (78.7) in games that have not been televised since the start of 2004.

Fast Facts
• Starting attackmen Tucker Hull and Sam Jones scored at least one point in 12 of the 13 contests a year ago.
• Jones enters Sunday’s contest having scored a point (g/a) in each of the last five contests … the last time he did not score a point was on March 26, 2011, in the Mids’ 5-4 loss to Colgate.
• Among the 14 games over the last two years, Jones has scored a goal in 12 contests and produced an assist in 10. He has recorded eight multi-goal games, including hat tricks in four games. Additionally, he has put up multiple points in 12 of the 14 contests.
• Hull, meanwhile, has turned in a goal in 11 of the 14 games, including hat tricks five times. He has dealt out assists in 11 games, as well. He has posted 10 multi-point performances.
• Dating back to 2009, at least one Navy player has turned in a hat trick in 23 of the last 36 games … Hull and Jones combined to score 11 of the Mids’ 14 goals in their opener against VMI last Saturday.
• Six different players recorded hat tricks a year ago, but only Hull (4) and Jones (3) produced more than one.
• While Harrison Chaires paced the Mids with seven extra-man goals a year ago, Hull played a role in 11 of the Mids’ 19 extra-man goals, scoring five times and providing the assist on an additional six goals. Navy is off to a slow start in its extra-man game, coming up empty on its four opportunities against VMI.
• Since 2004, Navy owns an amazing 53-2 record when holding its opponents to six or fewer goals, including an 11-1 mark in the last four seasons combined.
• Navy owns a remarkable 47-5 record when scoring 10 or more goals since 2004, including a 9-1 mark in 2009, a 10-1 record in ‘10, a 3-2 mark in ‘11 and a 1-0 record in ‘12.
• Close defenseman Matt Vernam has started 41-straight games heading into his senior campaign … other players with lengthy starting streaks include senior goalkeeper RJ Wickham (35) and senior midfielder Nikk Davis (31).
• Hull and Jones combined to scored 11 of the Mids’ 14 goals against VMI … the last Navy tandem to achieve that feat was Brendan Schneck and Mike Hannan, who pitched in six and five goals, respectively, to help guide the Mids to a 16-8 win over Princeton on April 8, 1978.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Sophomore attackmen Tucker Hull (Charlotte, N.C.) and Sam Jones (Annapolis, Md.) combined to score 17 points, including 11 goals, as the Navy men’s lacrosse team opened the 2012 campaign with a 14-7 victory over VMI on a drizzly Saturday afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Saturday also marked the beginning of the Rick Sowell era at the Naval Academy, as he directed the Midshipmen to their 11th-consecutive victory in a season-opener.

While Navy has enjoyed success in season openers over the years, the Midshipmen came into the season having lost their final five contests of the 2011 campaign, including three in a row at home.

“It feels good to get the first win of the season under our belt,” said Sowell, who became the program’s eighth coach in what marks the 105th year of lacrosse played at the Academy. “I couldn’t be happier for the guys because I know it’s been awhile coming. I know for the boys in the locker room, it feels awfully good to experience a winning feeling.”

The beginning stages of the game indicated it could be a long day for Navy, as the Mids gave up a goal just 25 seconds into the game and fell behind 2-0 with 10 minutes to go in the opening period.

Navy, though, put together a 7-0 run, scoring six goals in four-and-a-half minutes. The run started at 9:38 when Hull found Jones cutting in from the left wing and after a stick fake, Jones put away his first of five goals. Just 35 seconds later, Jones sent a thank-you pass back to Hull who was standing on the right crease to even the score at 2-2.

The Mids took a lead it would not relinquish at 8:18 in the first quarter when Jones threaded his pass through heavy traffic and found second-year midfielder Pat Durkin (Germantown, Md.) darting in and caught him on the doorstep. While Durkin saw action in nine of the 13 games a year ago, the goal marked the first of his career.

Navy pushed its lead to 5-2 following back-to-back goals by Hull, who owned a hat trick by the 6:39 mark in the first period. Meanwhile, Jones gave the Mids a 6-2 lead at the end of the quarter after rocking back-and-forth on the right side of the crease and pumping in a shot that had absolutely no angle, but caught the inside of the pipe.

Navy capped off its 7-0 run and extended its lead to 7-2 just 20 seconds into the second stanza when first-year starting defenseman Austin Miller (Rockville, Md.) sent a clearing pass from the defensive end of the field to sophomore long pole Pat Kiernan (Ridgewood, N.J.) at mid-field. Kiernan turned and was untouched as he ran straight to the goal, scoring for the first time on the afternoon and second in his career.

After being held without a goal for nearly 12 minutes, the Keydets finally found the back of the net at 13:32 in the second when senior midfielder Keith Long went high to low on Navy keeper RJ Wickham (Penn Yan, N.Y.) from seven yards out. VMI trimmed the lead to 7-4 when Navy’s Nikk Davis (Cockeysville, Md.) was unable to get to VMI’s Chris Kitchen and the slide came too slow, as Kitchen punched in an unassisted goal at 7:55.

Navy answered with three-straight goals, including two by Hull, to put the game out of reach.

Hull led all goal scorers with six, becoming the first Navy player to reach the six-goal milestone since Taylor Harris put up six against Holy Cross on March 26, 2006, en route to a 17-3 win by the Midshipmen. Hull added two assists to reach eight points for the first time in his career.

Meanwhile, Jones led all point producers in the game with nine on five goals and four assists. While both goal and assist marks were career highs for Jones, his nine points were the most by a Navy player since Dennis Nealon scored 12 (4 goals, 8 assists) against Washington College on March 20, 1991.

“They (Hull and Jones) are awfully fun to watch,” said Sowell. “I found out probably mid-fall that our offense would be geared around these two. I think versatility best describes our attack because all three, including Taylor Reynolds (Babylon, N.Y.), can play on the perimeter, off the ball and have good vision. Tucker and Sam have differing styles, yet they have some similarities.”

“I have to give thanks to the play of our midfielders today,” said Jones, who along with Hull, led the Mids a year ago with 38 points on 23 goals and 15 assists. “It really all started with their play. They had a lot of hockey assists that they don’t get credit for, but it’s a true testament to what they can do.”

Meanwhile, it was a solid effort by the Mids’ defensive unit which is still gaining experience. Although the Mids gave up five goals in the opening half, the defensive unit held the Keydets to just two in the second 30 minutes of play including zero in the final quarter. Senior Matt Vernam (Shoreham, N.Y.) is in his fourth season as a starter, however Miller and sophomore Nik Mullen (Wading River, N.Y.) are first-year starters and juniors Jay Mann (Cockeysville, Md.) and Cade Norris (Honeoye Falls, N.Y.) continue to adjust to their new roles as short stick defensive midfielders. Kiernan was the Mids’ primary long pole a year ago and will be a major player for the Mids up top this season. In addition to showing his versatility as a scorer when the opportunity presents itself, he picked up a team-high tying six ground balls. Wickham, meanwhile, was held without a save in the opening period, but a four-save effort in the second contributed to his eight for the day.

While senior Logan West (Berlin, Md.) didn’t finish the day winning the faceoff battle, his performance at the beginning of the game contributed greatly to the Mids’ seven-goal run. West won six of the game’s first nine draws and each of the last two as he faced the nation’s No.-1 ranked faceoff specialist, Stephen Robarge. VMI won the faceoff battle 15-10, but West surely put the ball in the Mids’ sticks early on to get a jump on the scoreboard.

The Midshipmen will be back in action next Sunday when they travel to Florida to take part in the Moe’s Southwest Classic which will feature Denver vs. Ohio State at 2:00 pm, followed by the Mids against the host Jacksonville Dolphins at 4:00 pm. Sunday’s contest will be televised live by NBC Sports Network, formerly known as Versus.

If you’ve listened to “The Reality Check” on AM1570 WNST.net (and why in the HELL wouldn’t you?), you’ve heard me play the hell out of “Dark Horses” from the new Switchfoot disc. It’s a GREAT football tune…

I like Lupe Fiasco. I LOVE Wale. I love him even more for rapping about Terrapins QB Danny O’Brien…

The thing they’re doing at Merriweather CERTAINLY isn’t an HFStival (even the HFS people know that), but it would have been a semi-decent event if they had charged 15 bucks for tickets. The Avett Brothers are quite good…

And don’t you DARE say a negative word about the Gin Blossoms, who mean more to me than some family members…

I hate singing the praises of a DC rapper (Wale) and then following it up by praising an act from Northern Virginia (Virginia Coalition), but VACO is freaking awesome…

BALTIMORE — I’m well aware that there were a number of frustrating things about Sunday’s inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix.

The traffic issues were painful. The construction made navigating Charm City difficult. At times during the last twelve months the Inner Harbor has been an eyesore for visitors and residents alike.

There have been plenty of bumps on the road to the BGP, an event some doubted would ever actually take place.

On Sunday, the only apparent bumps were the ones that took out half of the IndyCar Series field around Turn 3 by the Maryland Science Center.

Sunday’s event was tremendous, both in person and on television. (I uniquely experienced both thanks to Nestor Aparicio’s hospitality.)

The event itself allowed a festival atmosphere for folks who simply wanted to be at the “it” event for the region and didn’t really know anything more about Will Power (the event’s first winner) than Will Hunting (who got her number…I don’t particularly like those apples). There was live music, plenty of food and alcohol, good looking girls, celebrity appearances and giveaways.

For those who were truly interested in racing or just had a fascination with cars, the Baltimore Convention Center was a playground, filled with cars, gear and the opportunity to get up close and personal with the drivers themselves.

It was hard to complain about anything that was going on during the event. Perhaps there were times when the crowds made it difficult to maneuver around the track quickly, but that was to be expected.

The event on television (it aired on VERSUS) was significantly more enjoyable than a typical auto racing event. Instead of simple (boring) left turns, the views of Baltimore provided a lovely backdrop. With many more turns than a track like Dover or Richmond, the race was easier to follow than a typical NASCAR race. With only 75 laps (and lasting only two hours), there was never a feeling of “will this thing ever end?”

I can’t stress how much I enjoyed this thing. I’ll call it a pleasant surprise, as I was mostly uninterested in the event before the weekend. I did not officially decide to attend until Saturday night and was prepared to not enjoy the event whatsoever.

I was wrong. The event was tremendous and easily enjoyable for just about anyone.

Some things about the event can improve before 2012. Sunday’s music lineup was less than impressive (locals Jah Works were the most known act to take the stage). While Jimmie’s Chicken Shack and Collective Soul were legitimate headliners on the first two nights of the weekend, the event could have used a national headliner on Sunday, specifically after the race was over to keep fans from bailing as soon as the checkered flag waved.

It would be great if betting could somehow be incorporated into the event (it’s a great part of the Preakness experience), but sadly laws would have to be changed to make it possible. It is of course very unlikely we see that.

The fencing along the road course was difficult to see past, perhaps clear screens would be a better option in the future.

That’s about it.

The event was great. I had a great time.

I’m looking forward to making the event a part of my Labor Day weekend plans for 2012 and the years following.

-G

Comments Off on Headache For Some Downtown, But Baltimore Grand Prix was Great Time

I’m so bitter that all of the good shows are in DC this week. Men shouldn’t admit to enjoying The Script as much as I do…but I REALLY enjoy The Script. A lot…

WNST intern Ryan Morrison hooked me up with an advance copy of Tha Carter IV…I hope I’m not getting him in legal hot water by mentioning that. There was a humorous moment during Hurricane Irene where everyone in my house was singing along to this song. Don’t play it if you’re at work. Unless you work at The Gold Club. If you do, could you bring a Chap’s sandwich by the station Monday?

I’m not sure which yet, but either Friday night or Monday early afternoon I’ll be at the fair. I have two goals. ONE-watching something get born in the Birthing Center and squirm like hell. TWO-Re-enact this picture…

Glorious. Re-enacting THIS picture would also be an option…

There’s a good chance I win the Breeders Cup at some point in the future.

Oh-I’m playing for a kickball title Thursday night in Aberdeen before the Ravens game. The hell with the Ravens game, no one that matters is playing. I’m playing for a kickball title. I’d love to have you guys come support us. You really owe me at least that much considering all I’ve done for you.